Best Schools in Oakland, California
196 schools · 115 Elementary · 19 Middle · 56 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Oakland?
Use this page to compare every school in Oakland by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Downtown Charter Academy
Middle · Downtown Charter Academy District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Claremont Middle
Middle · Oakland Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Lighthouse Community Charter High
High · Lighthouse Community Charter High District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Oakland for 2026 are Downtown Charter Academy (9.0/10), Claremont Middle (9.0/10), and Lighthouse Community Charter High (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 145 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
196
149 public · 47 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$976,157
home value · ACS
Districts
69
serving the city
Schools
196
149 public · 47 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$976,157
home value · ACS
Districts
69
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 93% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Oakland schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +32.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Oakland schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Oakland
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 145 rated schools; 196 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown Charter Academy | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Claremont Middle | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Lighthouse Community Charter High | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Aspire River Oaks Charter | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Arise High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Kipp Esperanza High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Leadership Public Schools: Richmond | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Lazear Charter Academy | 8.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Emerson Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Glenview Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $108,414
- Median home value
- $976,157
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 48%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 42%
23% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Oakland compares
California rank
#496 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$108k
109% of California median
Schools in this city
167
Education Snapshot
Oakland, CaliforniaOakland's 208 schools serve approximately 72,342 students across 69 school districts. That enrollment distributes across 116 elementary, 22 middle, 63 high, and 7 combined campuses. Charter schools make up 68 of the 208 total — roughly one in three schools. On MySchoolScout, 165 scored schools average 5.4/10, nearly a full point below the California state average of 6.3/10. The city's median household income of $100,643 is only 4% below the California state median of $105,206, a much narrower gap than the rating differential versus the state. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher represent 46% of the population. The 69-district structure, large charter share, and composite ratings trailing state norms by nearly a full point define an environment where the individual school — not the district — is the most relevant unit of comparison for incoming families.
69 districts draw attendance lines through Oakland
Oakland is not one school system. 69 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 54% of the public campuses.
Oakland Unified is the largest slice at 81 of 149 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Oakland address is choosing a district first.
Among 145 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.3 to 9.0 — the spread is inside Oakland, not a citywide average.
68 of the 149 public schools are charters (46%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Oakland Unified81 public · 54%
- Achieve Academy District1 public · 1%
- Aims College Prep High District1 public · 1%
- Aims College Prep Middle District1 public · 1%
- Alternatives In Action District1 public · 1%
About Schools in Oakland, California
Oakland's public school landscape is one of California's most varied — 147 ranked public schools spanning a wide performance range, with an average score of 6.0 out of 10. That average masks real extremes. Thirty-two percent of schools, 47 in total, score 7 or higher, meaning parents who research carefully have a strong pool to draw from. The challenge is that performance is uneven across neighborhoods, so location alone is not a reliable guide to school quality.
At the top of the rankings, Downtown Charter Academy leads all Oakland public schools with a 9.3 out of 10, the highest score in the city. It serves middle school students and stands out sharply from the citywide average. Two elementary schools, Sequoia Elementary and Melrose Leadership Academy, both score 9.1, making them among the strongest options for younger students. Edna Brewer Middle and Redwood Heights Elementary each score 8.9, rounding out a top tier that shows strong performance at both the elementary and middle school levels. Parents with children across multiple grade levels have credible high-performing options to consider.
Oakland Unified School District operates most of the city's public schools, but Oakland also has a significant charter sector that gives parents additional choices outside traditional district boundaries. Downtown Charter Academy itself is a charter, and its top ranking signals that some of the city's strongest performers sit outside the conventional neighborhood school system. Parents who assume their assigned school is the only option may be leaving better-performing alternatives on the table.
Practically, parents researching Oakland schools should start with the data rather than proximity. With 32% of schools clearing the 7-out-of-10 threshold, there is real quality here — but it requires active searching. Middle school options deserve particular attention: two of the city's five top-ranked schools serve that grade band, and the jump from elementary to middle school is a moment where school quality can shift significantly. Use school scores as a first filter, then dig into enrollment deadlines for charters and magnet programs, which often run earlier than district open enrollment windows.
Elementary Schools
115 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 451 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 479 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 332 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 454 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 481 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 448 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 865 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 8 | 393 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 129 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | 7.3 |
| 10 | 341 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
Show all 115 elementary schools in Oakland
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 259 students · 6th–8th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 488 students · 6th–8th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 659 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 572 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 791 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 519 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 417 students · 6th–9th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 551 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 9 | 300 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 10 | 752 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
Show all 19 middle schools in Oakland
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
56 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 400 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 241 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 525 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 1,813 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 6 | 350 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 7 | 1,432 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 8 | 359 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 9 | 406 students · 6th–12th | 7.0 |
| 10 | 1,525 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
Show all 56 high schools in Oakland
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 573 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 739 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 9 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 93 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Head Royce SchoolPrivate 906 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 12 students · 1st–9th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Oakland
Oakland, California · 196 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 15 ZIP codes
Median Income
$108,414
Median Home Value
$976,157
Median Rent
$2,029/mo
Population
459,490
College Educated
48%
Homeownership
42%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Community Profile
Oakland has a median household income of $108,414. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $976,157, with a median rent of $2,029/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.3%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 115
- Middle
- 19
- High
- 56
- Other
- 6
Resources
School Districts (69)
Oakland Charter High District
1 school · 359 students
Aspire Capitol Heights Academy District
1 school · 214 students
Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District
1 school · 564 students
Envision Academy for Arts & Technology District
1 school · 223 students
AIMS College Prep Middle District
1 school · 212 students
Downtown Charter Academy District
1 school · 259 students
Aspire Triumph Technology Academy District
1 school · 245 students
Latitude 37.8 High District
1 school · 350 students
Aspire Titan Academy District
1 school · 321 students
Aspire Richmond Technology Academy District
1 school · 567 students
Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 436 students
Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 519 students
Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy District
1 school · 322 students
Alternatives in Action District
1 school · 132 students
Impact Academy of Arts & Technology District
1 school · 760 students
Aspire Pacific Academy District
1 school · 560 students
Community School for Creative Education District
1 school · 186 students
Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy District
1 school · 473 students
ASCEND District
1 school · 481 students
Cox Academy District
1 school · 464 students
North Oakland Community Charter District
1 school · 111 students
Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public District
1 school · 739 students
John Henry High District
1 school · 285 students
American Indian Public Charter School II District
1 school · 628 students
Learning Without Limits District
1 school · 354 students
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District
1 school · 525 students
Aspire Langston Hughes Academy District
1 school · 756 students
Leadership Public Schools - Hayward District
1 school · 557 students
Urban Montessori Charter District
1 school · 349 students
Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy District
1 school · 393 students
Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 621 students
Bay Area Technology District
1 school · 309 students
Francophone Charter School of Oakland District
1 school · 331 students
Lighthouse Community Charter District
1 school · 554 students
LPS Oakland R & D Campus District
1 school · 218 students
Oakland Military Inst College Prep Acad DIST
1 school · 518 students
Yu Ming Charter District
1 school · 865 students
Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy District
1 school · 497 students
Aspire Rosa Parks Academy District
1 school · 398 students
Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle District
1 school · 572 students
Aspire Summit Charter Academy District
1 school · 386 students
Aspire College Academy District
1 school · 203 students
Aspire Alexander Twilight College Prep Acad DIST
1 school · 427 students
Achieve Academy District
1 school · 542 students
East Bay Innovation Academy District
1 school · 502 students
Aspire Slauson Academy Charter District
1 school · 311 students
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 406 students
AIMS College Prep High District
1 school · 368 students
Aspire Firestone Academy Charter District
1 school · 348 students
KIPP Bridge Academy District
1 school · 487 students
Oakland Unity High District
1 school · 304 students
Oakland Unity Middle District
1 school · 125 students
Lighthouse Community Charter High District
1 school · 302 students
Aspire APEX Academy District
1 school · 314 students
Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 694 students
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 595 students
Lazear Charter Academy District
1 school · 479 students
Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter District
1 school · 322 students
Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter District
1 school · 332 students
Aspire Port City Academy District
1 school · 452 students
Aspire Monarch Academy District
1 school · 402 students
Aspire River Oaks Charter District
1 school · 451 students
Oakland School for the Arts District
1 school · 780 students
Aurum Preparatory Academy District
1 school · 122 students
ARISE High District
1 school · 400 students
Aspire Gateway Academy Charter District
1 school · 345 students
Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy District
1 school · 448 students
KIPP Esperanza High District
1 school · 241 students
Oakland Unified
82 schools · 33,916 students
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Oakland, California
How many schools are in Oakland, California?
Oakland has 196 schools, including 149 public and 47 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Oakland, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Oakland is 5.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Oakland, California?
The top-ranked school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Downtown Charter Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Oakland, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Aspire River Oaks Charter with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Oakland, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Downtown Charter Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best high school in Oakland, California?
The top-ranked high school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Lighthouse Community Charter High with a composite score of 8.3/10.
How many school districts serve Oakland, California?
Oakland is served by 69 school districts: Oakland Charter High District, Aspire Capitol Heights Academy District, Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District, Envision Academy for Arts & Technology District, Aims College Prep Middle District, Downtown Charter Academy District, Aspire Triumph Technology Academy District, Latitude 37.8 High District, Aspire Titan Academy District, Aspire Richmond Technology Academy District, Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy District, Alternatives in Action District, Impact Academy of Arts & Technology District, Aspire Pacific Academy District, Community School for Creative Education District, Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy District, Ascend District, Cox Academy District, North Oakland Community Charter District, Lodestar: a Lighthouse Community Charter Public District, John Henry High District, American Indian Public Charter School II District, Learning Without Limits District, Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District, Aspire Langston Hughes Academy District, Leadership Public Schools - Hayward District, Urban Montessori Charter District, Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy District, Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy District, Bay Area Technology District, Francophone Charter School of Oakland District, Lighthouse Community Charter District, Lps Oakland R & D Campus District, Oakland Military Inst College Prep Acad Dist, Yu Ming Charter District, Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy District, Aspire Rosa Parks Academy District, Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle District, Aspire Summit Charter Academy District, Aspire College Academy District, Aspire Alexander Twilight College Prep Acad Dist, Achieve Academy District, East Bay Innovation Academy District, Aspire Slauson Academy Charter District, Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy District, Aims College Prep High District, Aspire Firestone Academy Charter District, Kipp Bridge Academy District, Oakland Unity High District, Oakland Unity Middle District, Lighthouse Community Charter High District, Aspire Apex Academy District, Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District, Lazear Charter Academy District, Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter District, Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter District, Aspire Port City Academy District, Aspire Monarch Academy District, Aspire River Oaks Charter District, Oakland School for the Arts District, Aurum Preparatory Academy District, Arise High District, Aspire Gateway Academy Charter District, Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy District, Kipp Esperanza High District, Oakland Unified.
What is the education level in Oakland, California?
According to Census data, 48% of adults in Oakland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Oakland, California?
The median household income in Oakland is approximately $108,414 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Oakland, California?
Yes, Oakland has 47 private schools alongside 149 public schools. The top-rated private school is Park Day School with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Oakland, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Oakland is 19.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Oakland, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.